Rowan couldn't help pausing as he reached the second floor.
"The Ancient One has really been collecting artifacts for a long time," he muttered.
He'd been here before. She'd shown him around personally. Among the relics were the Cloak of Levitation that Stephen Strange would one day wear, the Axe of Angarruumus that could cut tunnels between Earth and the Dark Dimension, the Sanctum Bell that bridged Earth and the Ikonn Realm, mirrors that revealed other dimensions, and even a brazier capable of opening a path to Mephisto's domain.
At the far end of the hall stood several fixed portals.
Rowan adjusted the selector to Kamar-Taj and stepped through.
The air shifted, and he emerged in the Himalayan mountains near Kathmandu, standing within the true heart of Kamar-Taj.
"Rowan?" Mordo froze when he saw him. "What brings you here?"
"I need to speak with the Sorcerer Supreme," Rowan said without preamble. "It's urgent. Earth-level urgent."
Mordo didn't hesitate. He led Rowan through several courtyards and corridors until they reached the central plaza. The Ancient One stood there, calmly instructing newly initiated sorcerers. When she noticed Rowan, her expression sharpened.
"Something's wrong," she said quietly.
Rowan didn't waste time.
"Do you know anything about a being called the Serpent?" he asked. "Hydra may have released an entity by that name in the Mariana Trench."
The Ancient One's pupils contracted.
"The Serpent… Kull, the God of Fear," she said. "That's bad."
Rowan felt a chill. If even she reacted like that, this wasn't some minor threat.
"He's not a dimensional demon?" Rowan asked.
"No," she replied. "He's Asgardian. Odin's older brother."
That made Rowan blink.
"Kull ruled Asgard before Odin," the Ancient One continued. "He was cruel, driven by fear and domination. Odin overthrew him and sealed him away on Earth, deep beneath the Pacific."
Rowan stared at her.
"Wait. I thought Odin sealed his daughter Hela on Earth."
The Ancient One looked at him with genuine surprise. "You know more than you should. Yes, Hela was sealed as well. In Norway."
Rowan rubbed his temples. "Why is everything sealed on Earth? Couldn't they lock their problems away on their own world?"
She sighed. "Because Earth is Midgard. It sits at the crossroads of the universe. Many ancient gods were born here. The planet itself carries unique power, making it the most stable prison for entities of that scale."
Gaia. Oshtur. Set. Chthon. Earth had birthed them all.
That was why so many cosmic and dimensional beings coveted it. Consume Earth, and the rest of the universe would follow.
"Kamar-Taj protects more than just this planet," the Ancient One said. "We guard the balance of the universe."
She paused, then added, "But this is an Asgardian matter. We won't intervene directly."
Rowan understood immediately.
"You want me to tell Thor."
She nodded. "He's already close to you. That makes him the appropriate response."
"Fair enough," Rowan said. "Getting involved in someone else's family war rarely ends well."
He could read between the lines. Kamar-Taj wasn't unwilling. It was calculating.
Kull's goal would inevitably be Asgard, not Earth. Collateral damage was likely, but planetary annihilation wasn't. If Kamar-Taj committed its full strength here, it would weaken Earth's defenses. And that was an invitation no dimensional entity would ignore.
Rowan couldn't fault the logic.
He'd learned enough about this universe to see the pattern. Kamar-Taj had been founded thousands of years ago to repel beings like Dormammu. Odin, centuries later, conquered the Nine Realms but never truly ruled Earth.
That wasn't an accident.
Odin and the Sorcerer Supreme were peers. One ruled Asgard at full strength. The other ruled Earth at full strength. An understanding had been reached long ago.
Thor and Loki's treatment by the sorcerers said enough. Recognition, yes. Trust, not quite.
Two benevolent guardians. Neither harmless.
Odin buried the truth of Hela and bathed the Nine Realms in war. The Ancient One let countless people die so that Stephen Strange could inherit the title at the right moment.
Neither was clean-handed.
Rowan exhaled slowly.
So Kull was Odin's mess. And Odin would have to face it.
As for Kamar-Taj, it would watch. And wait.
Just like it always did.